Reed for saxophones, clarinets, and like wind instruments



P 1935- M. MACCAFERRI 2,013,567

REED FOR SAXOPHONES, CLARINETS AND LIKE WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 25, 1954 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REED FOR SAXOPHONES, CLARINETS, AND LIKE WIND INSTRUMENTS Mario Maccaferri, Paris, France Application October 23, 1934, Serial No. 749,639 In Great Britain October 25, 1933 4 Claims. (Cl. 84383) The present invention relates to reeds for saxo- 4 and, in dotted lines, a part of the length of cane phones, clarinets or like wind instruments and it 2 from which the reed is cut.

has for its principal object to provide a reed hav- As shown in Fig. 3, the reed 4 is finished off by ing improved properties whereby its vibration, forming a tapered end portion I thereon. How- 5 control and retention shape are improved. ever, owing to the fact that the length 4 is cut 5 Heretoiore, have been made from cane or diagonally across the grain, the said grain is exlike natural products by cutting a length thereposed symmetrically on the two sides of the tafrom in a direction extending substantially paralpered portion i. A a consequence of this arlel to the axis of the cane, one end of the cut rangement, the reed is less liable to distortion piece being tapered off to a pointed edge along a from absorbed moisture while the vibration is 10 plane disposed obliquely to the principal axis of more symmetrical than is the case with the the cut piece. As the grain or fibre of the cut known reeds. In Fig. 3 the direction of the grain piece extends parallel to the outer faces thereof of the fibres is indicated in dotted lines and it is and as the tapering part thereof cuts across the clearly seen that this grain is exposed symmetrigrain, the said grain is more exposed on the side Cally on the two sides of the tapered portion l as 5 of the reed w cut away to form the tapered indicated above.

edge than on t 2 other side of the reed and this The invention is not limited to the precise leads to distortion and lack of symmetry in viforms or details of construction described, as bration, wher by purity of tone is impaired. these may be varied to suit particular cases.

In accord:

with the invention a reed for a What I claim and desire to secure by Letters 20 saxophone, c et or the like is formed from Patent of the United States of America is:- cane or the it. by cutting a piece therefrom in 1. A reed for a wind-instrument having a via direction extending obliquely to the fibres or bratile tip portion tapering to a pointed edge, the diagonally to the of the cane, whereby the fibres extending symmetrically on the two sides 5 fibres are exposed symmetrically on the two sides of said tapering portion.

of the pointed edge subsequently formed on said 2. A reed for musical wind-instruments compiece and of which the pointed edge constitutes prising a section of cane taken on the bias or the active or vibrating part. slightly diagonally to the longitudinal direction By virtue of this arrangement, a more symof the fibres of the cane, and having a vibratile tip metrical vibration is obtained and the reed is less portion, the fibres of the cane extending sym- 3U liable to be distorted by absorbing moisture from metrically on the two sides of said vib-ratile porthe mouth. tion.

The invention will be more fully described here- 3. A reed for musical wind-instruments cominafter with reference to the accompanying drawprising a section of cane taken in a direction ex- 5 ing, in which: tending diagonally away from the axis of the Fig. 1 shows a length of cane .and the manner cane, and composed of a body part and a vibratile in which the new reed in accordance with the part, the latter being tapered and the fibres of the invention is cut therefrom. cane extending symmetrically on the two sides Fig. 2 is an end view of the reed showing in of said tip part. dotted lines the length of cane from which the 4. A reed for musical wind-instruments com- 0 reed is cut, and posed of a section of cane and including a body Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the portion having parallel faces and a tapered tip improved reed according to the invention. portion located at one end of said body portion,

As shown in Fig. 1 the reed according to the said section being tapered ofi to a pointed edge present invention is cut on the bias from a length along a plane oblique to said parallel faces, said 4 of cane 2 in a direction oblique to the axis of parallel faces being oblique to the direction of the said length of cane. There is indicated in dotted fibres of the cane so that the fibres are exposed lines at 3 on the figure a central longitudinal secsymmetrically on the two sides of the tapered tip tion showing the manner in which the reed is cut portion. while Fig. 2 gives an end view showing the reed MARIO MACCAFERRI. 50 

